Quotes of the Week, Oct. 4, 2007

Here are some of the notable quotes from around Major League Baseball this week:

"You can't draw it up any better than that. You don't think that someone drawing this up doesn't have a sense of drama ... a sense of humor?"

-- Colorado manager Clint Hurdle commenting on the Rockies' three-run rally in the bottom of the 13th off San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman to win a one-game playoff 9-8 against the Padres and earn a postseason berth.
(Rocky Mountain News)

"It's definitely a time to keep your emotions in check. You don't need to go 100 mph, which is easier said than done. Take a deep breath, and enjoy the moment."

-- Trot Nixon, a veteran of 38 postseason games before joining the Indians this season, on what it's like to be a part of the playoffs.
(Cleveland Plain Dealer)

"They're the best team in baseball right now. They've just got something going. Somebody is looking out for that bunch over there."

-- Jake Peavy on the Colorado Rockies, who scored three runs in the bottom of the 13th against closer Trevor Hoffman Monday night to claim a 9-8 win and a berth in the postseason.
(San Diego Union Tribune)

"I can remember people climbing up the light posts -- the street light posts -- people in trees. Everybody was happy."

-- Jamie Moyer, on what it was like being a high school student at the time of the Phillies last World Series championship in 1980.
(Baltimore Sun)

"That guy is like Omar Vizquel in the making. He's amazing."

-- Paul Byrd on teammate Asdrubal Cabrera, who joined the team in August and provided an immediate spark both offensively and with his play at second base.
(MLB.com)

"The biggest difference was that in '05, we never got to clinch at home. Being able to enjoy clinching [at Citizens Bank Park] was unique, something new."

-- Aaron Rowand, who won a World Series with the Chicago White Sox in 2005, on being a part of a team that was able to clinch a postseason birth on its home field with the Phillies this season.
(Chicago Tribune)

"We're not just looking at the divisional series. We know that starter No. 3, if we go to a five-game series, is likely to open up the ALCS. We hope that there's multiple starts for every one of our starters. Because of Curt's experience and certainly his success, he would position us well going forward."

-- Boston pitching coach John Farrell commenting on why pitcher Curt Schilling will start Game 3 of the ALDS against the Angels and not Game 2.
(Boston Globe)

"Obviously, I'd rather start. That was my role all year. That's where I feel most comfortable. But the decision isn't up to me."

-- Jason Marquis, a starter for the Cubs all year, on his role as a reliever in the NLDS.
(Chicago Sun-Times)

"You know what? It's how I pitch. It's how I've always pitched. It's not like I go to the mound and say, 'I'm going to take 15 minutes before pitches so I can throw off the batters' timing.' That's not the way I think. I'm concentrating and relaxing so I can do my job to the best of my ability. Why make a big deal out of it? When a batter steps out of the box or calls time to fix his batting gloves, nobody says anything."

-- Cleveland Indians pitcher Rafael Betancourt, on those who believe he goes out of his way to work very, very slowly on the mound.
(Cleveland Plain Dealer)

"One thing about this team never does is quit, and we showed that again."

-- Rookie Troy Tulowitzki commenting on the Rockies' three-run rally in the bottom of the 13th off San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman to win a one-game playoff with the Padres 9-8 and earn a postseason berth.
(Rocky Mountain News)

"Everybody kind of learns their craft. I definitely think I'm a little more crafty than I was then [in 2003]. But I don't think as far as stuff or anything goes I'm really any different. I'm going into it on a pretty good note here at the end of the season."

-- Josh Beckett on the differences between now and when he last pitched in the postseason with the 2003 Florida Marlins.
(South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

"It feels real. I hope I can come back and play with the team I grew up with. Whatever happens is going to be in the best interests of my family and me."

-- Torii Hunter, a free agent after the season, on the possibility he won't return to the Twins.
(St. Paul Pioneer Press)

"I think with Esky, he's got bigger earrings as he's had more success. My wife is really upset with me every time she sees him walking around the ballpark. They've got to be six carats apiece, so with success comes bigger earrings."

-- Angels manager Mike Scisocia on the large diamond stud earrings worn by pitcher Kelvim Escobar prior to Game One of the ALDS.
(Los Angeles Times)

"I didn't like being on anybody's list, but I gave up home runs, too. I caught him early in his career, and I think early in his career he expanded his zone a lot more than you've seen over the years. Back then, if you got ahead of him he would chase breaking balls from lefties down and away more than obviously what he does now."

-- Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt on his days facing Barry Bonds. The slugger got his first career hit off Honeycutt, a double, but went 0-11 versus him after that.
(San Francisco Chronicle)

"Standing on the on-deck circle, looking down in your shoes and just going, 'This is your last at-bat. Ever.' So it was rough. (Braves pitcher Ron) Mahay was a class act. He stepped off the mound. Bobby Cox, I mean, one of the classiest guys you're going to meet in the Braves organization. We've been through a lot."

-- Craig Biggio on the feelings he was going through during his last at-bat as a Major League Baseball player Sunday. Biggio retired at the end of the season, ending a 20-year career spent entirely with the Astros.
(Houston Chronicle)

"It's not going to be easy to be able to deal with it, but people don't want to know that. They want you to execute, and they want their club to go forward."

-- Trevor Hoffman commenting after Monday's one-game playoff against Colorado. Hoffman was unable to preserve a two-run lead in the bottom of the 13th inning as the Rockies rallied for a 9-8 win and a berth in the postseason.
(San Diego Union Tribune)

"Nothing's penciled in. There's a lot of names that are going to filled in for those three spots that are open. When I get to spring training, I'm going to get in there and fight for a job."

-- Homer Bailey, on his desire to work his way into a full-time rotation spot on the 2008 Reds. Bailey finished the 2007 campaign with a 4-2 record.
(Cincinnati Post)

"Tom has a decision to make with the Mets. He's still got plenty left in that left shoulder. He's like [John] Smoltz -- he can still pitch."

"This put the stamp on everything I've been through and what I accomplished this year from an individual standpoint. Shed some tears. Looked back, thought about my kids immediately. My parents, my brother, my sisters, all the friends that stuck with me when I was at my absolute lowest, and the people I met along the way on my way back up."

-- Dmitri Young on the announcement that he won the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award based on his performance with the Nationals.
(Washington Post)

"The international license is big. My teammates can pull their IDs out of their wallets when we're at the airport, but I have to take mine out of my bag."

-- Takashi Saito of the Dodgers on why he is delaying his return home to Japan so that he can get a California driver's license.
(Los Angeles Times)

"It really will be more what we can agree on -- there definitely will be some talk both ways. Whatever happens, there will be one year, for sure, and past that, we'll see. If it makes sense, it will get done. I like the guys here, and if I get a chance to get it done, I'd love to, but you don't want to sell yourself short."

-- A's closer Huston Street on his feelings as he enters talks about a long-term contract to avoid arbitration.
(San Francisco Chronicle)

"This team is not far from winning a championship. I want to be here. They know that already. They know my heart is here and this is where I want to be."

-- Jose Guillen, an upcoming free agent, on why he hopes to return to the Mariners.
(Seattle Times)